MIA in Internal Row over ‘Bribery’ Case

Commander of the Georgian Border Guard Department Badri Bitsadze accused a senior official from the Interior Ministry’s police inspection unit on February 9 of “fabricating” the case against four border guards, who were detained on February 8 for alleged bribery.

Both the Border Guard Department and police inspection unit are part of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

Reportedly, four border guards were detained after they allegedly took a bribe – USD 100 – from an Azerbaijani citizen while crossing the Sarpi checkpoint on the border with Turkey.

Chief of the border guard Badri Bitsadze said at a news conference that Davit Mindiashvili, chief of the police inspection unit in western Georgia, fabricated the case against border guards and illegally arrested them.

“Such actions are counterproductive in the fight against corruption and, at the same time, discredit the anti-corruption drive,” Badri Bitsadze said.

The Interior Ministry leadership has made no comments regarding this case so far.